Air quality warnings are expected to remain in place across much of the United States on Saturday as thick smoke from wildfires in Canada and Minnesota continues to drift over large areas. The smoke, originating from out-of-control blazes in Ontario and the Boundary Waters wilderness area in Minnesota, has left tens of millions of people breathing unhealthy air, with conditions ranging from eye irritation to cancellations of outdoor events.
Parts of the mid-Atlantic and north-east may see some relief later on Saturday due to possible thunderstorms, though these could bring flash flooding and high winds. Meanwhile, the midwest and Great Lakes regions continue to experience dangerous air quality. The World Cup final between Spain and Argentina, scheduled for Sunday in East Rutherford, New Jersey, is expected to go ahead as winds are forecast to push smoke eastward, improving conditions by match day.
The fires continue to burn largely unchecked, according to Bob Oravec, a lead forecaster at the National Weather Service. In Canada, the Namaygoosisagagun First Nation community has been destroyed, and nearly a dozen other communities have been evacuated or are in the process of evacuation. US officials have closed the Boundary Waters canoe area wilderness to aid firefighting efforts.
Health authorities urge people with heart or lung conditions, older adults, pregnant women, and children to limit outdoor activities. Free N95 masks have been distributed in several north-eastern states. Long-term exposure to such smoky conditions can lead to chronic respiratory, cardiovascular, and neurological diseases, and premature death. Scientists link a growing share of these health impacts to the human-driven climate crisis, which is estimated to contribute to tens of thousands of deaths annually from wildfire smoke.
